iPhone offers superior ecosystem integration, longer software support (7+ years), and consistent performance across all models, while Samsung Galaxy provides more hardware variety, customizable Android OS, and better value at mid-range price points.
iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's premium iOS smartphone with ecosystem integration and extended software support.
Android smartphone line offering diverse models from budget to flagship with extensive customization.
Software Update Support. Price Range (Entry Model). Operating System. Camera Performance (Main Sensor). Battery Capacity (Pro Max vs Ultra). Market Share. Customization Options
Choose iPhone if you prioritize long-term software support, ecosystem integration with Apple devices, consistent performance, and data privacy features. Choose Samsung Galaxy if you want hardware variety at different price points, deeper OS customization, larger displays, and more camera megapixels for the price.
iPhone: iOS 18: 82% adoption (88% on 4-year devices) | Samsung Galaxy: OneUI adoption varies by region
iPhone: Apple Neural Engine (optimized) | Samsung Galaxy: 39% boost vs Gen 4
iPhone: A18 Pro optimization | Samsung Galaxy: 24% greater processing
iPhone: Dual rear (vertical alignment) | Samsung Galaxy: Triple rear camera
iPhone: 6-7 years | Samsung Galaxy: 4-5 years typical
iPhone: 1 manufacturer | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: 2.2 million (App Store) | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Same day iOS release | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Not available | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Apple Intelligence processes on-device | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Annual major releases | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: 15+ Apple Intelligence features | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 6-core GPU) | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Yes (standard, 5G on all models) | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: Limited split-view on iPhone 16 Plus/Pro Max only | Samsung Galaxy: N/A
iPhone: 7+ years | Samsung Galaxy: 4-5 years
iPhone: 48MP (iPhone 16) | Samsung Galaxy: 108MP (Galaxy S24 Ultra)
iPhone: 4,685 mAh (iPhone 16 Pro Max) | Samsung Galaxy: 5,000 mAh (Galaxy S24 Ultra)
iPhone: 2,850,000 (A18 Pro) | Samsung Galaxy: 2,380,000 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)
iPhone: No microSD slot | Samsung Galaxy: MicroSD up to 1TB
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: $899 (Galaxy S25)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: All major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: $800 (Galaxy S25)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 200MP (S25 Ultra)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 18 apps (One UI)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 4000 mAh (A55)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 45 days (varies by carrier)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 50MP-200MP
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 50-60 minutes
Processor Performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: Snapdragon 8 Elite: 3,218
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy S25 Ultra: 3,000 nits
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 5x optical (Galaxy S25 Ultra)
Battery Capacity (Pixel 9 Pro / Galaxy S25)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy S25: 4,000 mAh
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 7 years OS + 7 years security
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 1440 x 3120 (AMOLED)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version (3.4 GHz)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 7 years (S24/S25)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 120Hz AMOLED
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 50+ apps with OneUI
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 45-60 days after Google
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 144Hz AMOLED
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 3,000 nits
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 200MP f/1.7
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 7 years (Galaxy S24+)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 6.8" (Galaxy S24 Ultra)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 256GB (Galaxy S24)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 2,600 (Dynamic AMOLED 2X)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 1.5m (IP68)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 45-60 days
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 4.4/5 (2.3M reviews)
Gaming Performance Benchmark (Geekbench 6)
iPhone: N/A | Samsung Galaxy: 2,890 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)
How to choose between iPhone and Samsung Galaxy
iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy. Contains 97 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy.
Which phone gets longer software support?
iPhone wins significantly with 7+ years of guaranteed iOS updates and security patches. Samsung Galaxy S series receives 4-5 years, while budget Galaxy A models get 3-4 years. This means an iPhone purchased today will receive iOS updates until 2033, while Galaxy S24 updates end around 2029.
Is Samsung Galaxy a better value than iPhone?
Yes, for budget-conscious buyers. Samsung's Galaxy A15 ($249) offers a 90Hz display and decent performance, while iPhone's entry model (iPhone 16, $429) costs 72% more. However, iPhone's longer support period means lower long-term cost per year of usable life.
It's a tie with different strengths. iPhone 16 excels at computational photography and real-world low-light performance despite lower 48MP megapixels. Galaxy S24 Ultra offers 108MP resolution and superior zoom capabilities. For everyday photos, iPhone's AI processing wins; for megapixel-heavy shots, Galaxy wins.
Can I customize Samsung Galaxy more than iPhone?
Yes, significantly. Samsung Galaxy allows custom launchers, icon packs, widgets, and deeper system customization through One UI. iPhone limits customization to wallpapers, lock screen widgets, and app organization. If customization is important, Galaxy wins by a large margin.
iPhone has stronger privacy features by default with on-device processing, App Tracking Transparency, and encrypted iCloud backups. Galaxy offers good privacy but requires more manual configuration. Both meet enterprise security standards, but iPhone's approach is more privacy-first out of the box.
How to Choose Between iPhone and Samsung Galaxy
Software Update Support: iPhone has 7+ years, while Samsung Galaxy has 4-5 years.
Price Range (Entry Model): iPhone has $429 (iPhone 16), while Samsung Galaxy has $249 (Galaxy A15).
Operating System: iPhone has iOS (closed, proprietary), while Samsung Galaxy has Android (open-source, customizable).
Consider: Camera Performance (Main Sensor)
Camera Performance (Main Sensor): iPhone has 48MP with computational photography, while Samsung Galaxy has 108MP with AI enhancement.
Consider: Battery Capacity (Pro Max vs Ultra)
Battery Capacity (Pro Max vs Ultra): iPhone has 4,685 mAh, while Samsung Galaxy has 5,000 mAh.
Market Share: iPhone has 28% global smartphone market, while Samsung Galaxy has 18% global smartphone market.
Customization Options: iPhone has Limited (wallpapers, widgets), while Samsung Galaxy has Extensive (launchers, ROMs, widgets).